Alcoholism Is A Four Fold Progressive Disease
by: Robin Foote BA, NCAC, TSF.
Alcoholism is a disease of the body, thinking, emotions and spirit. Progressive
damage to these four aspects interact in various ways such that a person is
increasingly compelled to drink. Also, once drinking starts they cannot ‘always’
guarantee when they will stop or how much they will drink.
The Body
A genetic predisposition. Fifty percent of alcoholics have an inherited genetic
makeup that almost guaranteed they would become alcoholic when they began to
drink heavily. For example, the brain chemistry of some children or
grandchildren of alcoholics actually encourages heavier drinking.
Alcohol Metabolism. Alcohol is metabolized differently by some people. As a
result the body and brain requires more alcohol to have the same effect than
normal drinkers would need.
Cell alteration. All heavy drinkers undergo changes at the cellular level of the
brain. Where the brain cells meet extra receptor positions grow to receive the
heavy dose of alcohol related chemical messengers. When not drinking these extra
receptor positions demand to be filled thus creating a craving for alcohol.
Brain damage. Alcohol, in any quantity, is poisonous to brain cells and kills
off cells in their millions. The most critically affected parts of the brain are
those that deal with short term memory, decision making and rational thinking.
Women heavy drinkers develop brain damage with less drinking than men.
Liver Damage. The most common liver disease of alcoholics is cirrhosis
(scarring) of the liver. This disease results in reduced and corrupted chemicals
being sent to the body which can result in damage to other organs. Women suffer
liver damage with less alcohol consumption than men.
Alcoholic Hepatitis (AH). AH is caused by other liver diseases most notably
cirrhosis of the liver. More than 60% of persons who develop both AH and
cirrhosis will die within four years. AH can cause changes in sleep patterns,
mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression;
shortened attention span; and problems with coordination may occur.
Brain Chemicals. The body and especially the brain relies on the liver to filter
important body fluids and excrete wastes. As a result of contaminated chemistry
from a damaged liver the brain does not function properly. Typically a person
will have cloudy and slowed thinking.
Heart Damage. Heavy drinking causes damage to the heart muscles. The heart pumps
less blood and an abnormal heart beat may develop. Women suffer heart damage
with less alcohol consumed than men.
Skeletal Muscles. Heavy drinking causes muscles in the arms and legs to shrink.
For example, an alcoholic may have legs that are out of proportion, skinnier,
than the rest of their body. Sufferers may become embarrassed about their body
shape.
Cancer. The risk of cancer increases with greater alcohol consumption – more so
in women. Cancer can develop in the upper airways, the liver, breasts and the
bowels.
Sexual Organs and Sexuality. Heavy alcohol use shrinks the testicles. In men and
women the breasts grow larger. Men
produce more female hormones and women produce more male hormones. Men become
less virile and women become less feminine. As a result a persons
sexuality and libido is altered.
They may sense change in their sexuality and over compensate by becoming more
sexually active. Indiscriminate or intoxicated sexual activity raises the risk
of getting sexually transmitted diseases.
Thinking
As detailed before various damaged body organs and altered chemistry affect how
the brain thinks.
This buildup of thinking changes occurs over an extended time period. These
small changes are usually unseen by the sufferer. The person reacts by adjusting
their reasoning and behavior to accommodate their new ways of thinking.
Alcoholics always adjust their thinking in ways that are harmful to themselves.
And further, they cannot see the impact of their new coping style.
Typically they begin to adopt a siege mentality. Inner-self feedback, and from
other people, indicates they are not quite at one with their ‘inner’ selves or
the person they once were. Their experiences seem to paint a picture to the
sufferer that people around them are against them, or are better than them, or
are just different from themselves. They become insecure, angry, ashamed,
depressed and anxious about their altered attitudes and actions.
This siege mentality generates a self-centered perspective to protect their self
concept. They become takers and non-givers. “I want what I want and I want it
now”, sort of thing; “I need a drink, now”; regardless of the needs of others.
And, when they do not get it they assert themselves even more, becoming more
demanding as the disease progresses.
Alcoholics will increasingly try to cope by drinking more alcohol to take away
the pain of their perception of being isolated in thinking and behavior. They
slowly adopt a denial attitude to their real condition, which they eventually
believe is reality for them.
The alcoholic drinks more due to a different brain chemistry and metabolism, has
craving for more alcohol due to cell alteration and organ damage, and drinks
more to cope with the effects of their changed thinking and behavior. They are
drinking to feel normal.
The Emotions
From the above it can easily be seen that their emotions become strained and
twisted. They become emotionally dependent on achieving and keeping a state of
denial of their true situation. They deny it to themselves and others. If their
alcoholism is in threat of being exposed or their alcohol supply is threatened
they may protect themselves with anger, bluff, self-pity, manipulation,
depression, running away & etc.
They ‘feel’ as if they must continue their current emotional and thinking stance
at all costs. Alcohol has become their best friend and they are loyal to it.
The Spirit
The spirit of a person is the centre of their personality. If, as seen above,
the person is not thinking, feeling or acting as their true self would, not
aligned with their spiritual self, they are spiritually ill at ease; or
dis-eased.
A Solution
The progression of the disease must be arrested by stopping drinking and
restoration of health in all four areas - body, thinking, emotions and spirit.
It is the dis-eased spiritual state that is targeted by the most successful
treatment service world wide – Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Through the Twelve
Steps of recovery each person finds their inner, spiritual self by stripping
away the effects of alcoholism and fixing up the wreckage of past thinking and
actions. They begin to live a life of freedom from alcohol that has had them
enslaved.
More information at; http://www.BriefTSF.com
and http://www.SoberIsSexy.com
© Copyright Robin J. Foote 2006 – May be copied and reproduced as long as source
and internet links are maintained.
About The Author
By Robin J. Foote, B.A. (Welfare), National Certified Addictions Counselor, who
is an alcohol therapist with over 20 years experience working with alcoholics
and addicts in Australia.
Alcoholism Signs And Symptoms You Should Know
by: Olinda Rola
Alcoholism signs and symptoms are clues that alcohol may be a problem. If left
untreated, alcoholism signs and symptoms and alcoholism can affect the quality
of life of the person as well as those around them. Alcoholism is a disease
where alcohol consumption (beer, wine, or hard liquor) is at a level that
interferes with the person's physical and mental health, and negatively impacts
family, social or work responsibilities.
Alcoholism symptoms can be recognized relatively early in the disease's
progression, but if not dealt with, alcoholism can be fatal. Here are alcoholism
signs and symptoms that indicate alcohol may be a problem:
• Becoming Angry When Confronted About Drinking
• Daily or Frequent Alcohol Consumption Needed to Function
• Drinking Alone
• Finding Excuses to Drink
• Food Intake Neglect
• Hiding Alcohol Related Behavior
• Inability to Stop or Reduce Alcohol Consumption
• Memory Loss, Blackouts
• Morning Shakes
• Nausea, Vomiting
• Physical Appearance Neglect
• Violent Episodes Occur When Drinking
When considering alcoholism signs and symptoms, alcoholism can be broadly
divided into two categories - alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Alcohol
abusers may drink heavily at various times, but they have not yet become alcohol
dependent. Alcoholism signs and symptoms for alcohol abusers can be problems
that happen while being intoxicated such as drinking and driving, violent
episodes, or missing appointments, work or school.
Alcohol dependence can develop over the years and follows a generally
predictable pattern. A tolerance of alcohol develops first, which means a person
needs to consume greater quantities of alcohol before the same effects are
noticed. Over time, the person may lose control over their drinking and may not
be able to stop even if they want to. And if alcohol consumption is reduced or
stopped, withdrawal symptoms can be experienced which can range from annoying to
life-threatening.
If the alcoholic continues drinking, he or she may become obsessed with drinking
to the exclusion of almost everything else. Many of the above alcoholism signs
and symptoms may be noticed. The most severe kind of drinking is called 'binge
drinking', periods of time with continuous heavy alcohol consumption.
If alcoholism continues to progress, the mental and physical health of the
alcoholic can seriously deteriorate. Many of the body's organs can become
damaged which lowers resistance to disease and infections. Relationships at home
or socially may become damaged, and there can be financial and legal problems
due to the alcoholic's inability to stop drinking.
If the alcoholic continues to drink, alcohol can ultimately cause their death
one way or another. Accidents and related injuries, suicide, drownings and
falling asleep in bed while smoking and intoxicated and burning to death are
examples of the consequences of alcoholism. Health-wise, damage to the body's
organs and systems due to long-term excessive drinking means the person will
likely suffer from a number of diseases and conditions such as heart disease,
cirrhosis of the liver, malnutrition and cancer.
Are there different stages of alcoholism? Yes, most definitely. If the
alcoholism signs and symptoms indicate that alcohol consumption is becoming or
is already a problem, there are resources available to help with alcoholism and
the serious consequences of this disease.
Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing
About The Author
Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of
http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - visit the website for natural
health articles, resources and information.
Learn more about short term physical symptoms of alcohol at
http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/physical-symptoms-of-alcohol.html .
Learn About The Awful Truth And The Hard
Facts About Drunk Driving Accidents
by: Michael Sanford
One minute your in the bar, having a couple of laughs with someone you just met.
The flirting rises as both of you chug down your drinks. As you drink more, you
become bolder, so is the other person. Both of you now have a roaring good time.
As the night ends, you exchange numbers, say your goodbyes and get to your cars.
That’s when the nightcap ends, the likelihood that you’ll end up in a hospital
is far greater than the other motorists on the road, and odds are you’ll cause
the accident. Drinking and driving never matched, you may never have the chance
to dial the number you just got from the person in the bar.
Fact, drunk driving is the leading cause of motor vehicle mishaps all over the
world. Fact, motor vehicle accidents is the leading cause of death in the United
States for people under the age of 34. Basically, the more you drink the more
the likelihood that you will get into an accident if you drive. During holidays,
vehicular accidents rise dramatically because of all the drinking and
celebration.
Laws have been passed to curb the incidents of drunk driving. Most states have
laws that prohibit a person who have been drinking above a certain limit from
driving. Most states have a BAC limit of 0.10 percent while some have lowered it
to 0.08 percent for drivers 21 and above. Anyone younger shouldn’t even be
drinking. BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) is the ratio of the alcohol to the
blood of the body. BAC is used as the percentage of the amount of alcohol
present in every deciliter of blood.
As more alcohol is consumed the risk of getting into a vehicular accident if the
person drives grows. For example, a man that weighs about 160 pounds would have
a BAC of 0.04 an hour after drinking two beers. It’s still way below the limit
of driving under the influence but the likelihood of getting into an accident is
1.4 times more probable than someone who hasn’t had a drop. Add two more beers
then the probability goes up tenfold. Make it a six pack with two more beers,
the drinker reaches the limit of 0.10 BAC and the risk is now 48 times more that
the non drinker. Add two more for the road and you reach 0.15 BAC well above the
legal limit and the risk is now 380 times than the abstainer. Drunk driving is
never an option.
Driving requires complete attention and all the motor skills of the person. Your
hand and eye coordination is essential as well as the skills. A driver’s ability
to divide his or her attention to multiple visual sensations is drastically cut
as the level of BAC grows. Information processing, reaction time, attentiveness
on the road, driving skills and all aspects of psychomotor performance is
greatly reduced with a high level of BAC.
Incidents of drunk driving with persons below 21 years of age have been
alarming. Many blame this on the fact that because of the young age their
driving skills are minute. Inexperience and alcohol doesn’t mix well with drunk
driving. With the energetic youth and their adventurous spunk, driving drunk is
never an alternative. Young people have an inclination to take risks when
driving, like speeding and they have the tendency to under or over estimate
situations. Drinking alone is illegal for those under the age of 21. The fact
that they are underage drinkers increases the risk of getting involved in
vehicular accidents.
Many laws have been imposed to help reduce drunk driving related vehicular
accidents. Penalties and legal sanctions are handed down to those convicted of
drunk driving, this also serves as a warning to those who drink and drive. When
a person is caught drunk driving and convicted, penalties and sanctions include
suspension of the license to drive. You may also have to pay a certain amount.
For repeated offenders, jail time may also be included and permanent suspension
of the license may be done. There is also the imposition of having to attend
seminars on drunk driving.
Many laws have been passed to prevent drunk driving and thankfully the number of
drunk driving related accidents has dropped. Drinking could be a great way to
celebrate or pass the time away. But if you plan on drinking, make sure that you
have a designated driver or just take a cab home. No price is too high for a
person’s health. Whatever the reason is for drinking, never ever get behind a
wheel.
About The Author
Michael Sanford
For more information on drunk driving accidents goto
http://www.lawyer-and-attorney.com/ for more information.
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Learn Which Juice Extractor Is Right For You
by: Piers Crispin
What are Juice Extractors?
Juice extractors are electric machines from a variety of manufacturers such as
Breville, Kenwood, Green Star, Omega, Champion, Jack Lalane, Samson and L'Equip
that are used for the extraction of juice from fruit and vegetables. Juice
extractors are perfect for healthy, refreshing and freshly blended treats like
fruit and vegetable juices. Juice extractors are the best way to get great
tasting nutritious drinks. Juice extractors are not the same as citrus juicers,
which are designed to remove the juice from citrus fruit and nothing more. Juice
extractors are perfectly suitable for making juice of soft and hard fruits and
vegetables as well. Orange, apple and grape juice are all excellent juices that
should be included in a healthy diet. Carrots, wheatgrass and barley grass have
many outstanding health properties.
Types of Juice Extractors
Typically, automatic juice extractors are categorized into Centrifugal Juicers
or Masticating Juicers. Centrifugal Juicers use cutters that shred the food into
small pieces that are spun in a basket (where the centrifuge comes in) to
extract the juice from the pulp. These centrifugal juice extractors can create
oxidation that degrades nutrients over time which means that the juice should be
drunk right away. Masticating Juicers "chew" the food up and are lower speed
units that produce a higher quality juice because they produce less oxidation
and release more nutrients. The juices produced have a longer shelf life. There
is also a third type of juice extractors and these are the Hydraulic Press
Juicers such as the Norwalk Juicer which cuts and grates the produce using a
vortex triturator, with the resulting mass extracted into a linen bag which is
then placed under a hydraulic press. The hydraulic press then exerts a huge
downforce that sees the extraction from the Norwalk Juicer of 50%-100% more
juice than other juicers. These juice extractors produce very little oxidation
and are touted to make the highest nutrient juice, but are also much more
expensive than the centrifugal or masticating juice extractors.
Which is the Best Juice Extractor?
The answer to this really lies with the user. The fastest juice extractors are
the centrifugal juicers, but they are unable to handle leafy greens and
wheatgrass as well as the other types. The hydraulic press extractors produce
the best juice but are very expensive. And the masticating juicer requires more
physical effort. So, to pick one machine from one manufacturer is not possible
with each manufacturer having a range of home, commercial, pro or professional
juice extractors. When buying a juice extractor, the best way is to decide which
features you require in a machine, the type of juice you want to extract,
whether from fruit such as apples, vegetables such as carrots or leafy greens
such as wheatgrass, and the power needed.
About The Author
This article was written by Piers Crispin, a writer on consumer affairs. Please
visit
http://juicers.organic-knowledge.com for more information on Juice
Extractors articles on juicing.
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